Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority
Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority
The Opioid Abatement Authority will be governed by an 11 member board.
* Indicates representative is appointed by the Governor
OAA Public Meeting Recordings are available here: OAA YouTube Channel
Chair, Opioid Abatement Authority Board of Directors
Senator Pillion was elected to serve Virginia’s 40th Senatorial district in November of 2019, which includes Grayson, Lee, Scott, Washington, Smyth (part), Wise (part), and the city of Bristol. As a member of Virginia’s General Assembly, Todd has been recognized as a leader for Southwest Virginia and the Commonwealth through his work on the opioid epidemic, economic development, and promoting commonsense policies good for Virginia families and businesses.
After graduating Lincoln Memorial University, he attended VCU’s School of Dentistry as one of the few students from the Southwest Virginia region. During his last year in dental school, Todd helped with the inception of the Wise RAM and Mission of Mercy project. He also joined the Virginia Army National Guard and was commissioned as a Captain in its Medical Detachment.
Senator Pillion was elector Chair of the Opioid Abatement Authority Board of Directors on November 8, 2021.
Vice-Chair, Opioid Abatement Authority Board of Directors
Dr. Sarah Thomason is Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Gatton College of Pharmacy at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). She is the Clinical Pharmacist at the Johnson City Community Health Center, ETSU Health Internal Medicine, and the ETSU Health Center of Excellence for HIV/AIDS Care. Dr. Thomason received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (1991) and Doctor of Pharmacy (1994) degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy (VCU). She completed a Fellowship in Psychiatric Pharmacy at VCU in 1996. She has been a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist (Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties) since 1997 and a board-certified ambulatory care pharmacist since 2011. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. She performs comprehensive medication management in the areas of psychiatric and neurologic pharmacy, substance use disorders, and other primary care disorders.
Treasurer, Opioid Abatement Authority Board of Directors
A native of the community she now represents, Delegate Briana Sewell represents Virginia's 25th House District in the General Assembly, part of Prince William County, one of the most racially and culturally diverse counties in the United States. Upon completing her undergraduate studies at the College of William and Mary and earning her Master in Public Administration from American University, Briana served as Congressman Gerry Connolly's Prince William County District Director. She also helped establish the Virginia Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, where she advocated for policies such as paid leave, affordable child care, and access to quality health care. Most recently, Briana served as Chief of Staff to the Chair At-Large of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. First elected in 2021, Delegate Sewell's legislative priorities consist of leading the effort in the House to create a paid family and medical leave program, supporting veterans and teachers, and lowering the costs of prescription drugs for all Virginians.
Sheriff Joe Baron is a native of Norfolk, Virginia and has dedicated his life to keeping Norfolk safe, with more than 36 years of law enforcement service. He is honored to serve as sheriff, and is grateful to the people of Norfolk for electing him to the position in 2017.
Sheriff Baron is leading the Norfolk Sheriff's Office with a newly-created mission statement: to be a values-driven organization committed to public safety, public service, and public trust. His motto for his team is to serve by the Golden Rule: treat others the way we wish to be treated.
Before joining the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Baron spent 26 years on the Norfolk Police Department. Some of his notable positions include leading security plans for some of the city’s largest events, including Harborfest and presidential visits. He also served as a homicide detective, investigating 77 murders in Norfolk and solving all but seven of those cases. Sheriff Baron has a reputation for being persistent and dedicated to accountability, but it’s his passion for public service that fuels him. He retired from the Norfolk Police Department as the Violent Crimes Commander in charge of Homicide, Robbery, and Gang investigation units. In 1995, Sheriff Baron received the Norfolk Police Department’s Top Cop award.
Sheriff Baron served in the US Navy and Navy Reserves after graduating from Bayside High School in 1982. He is also a graduate from the Professional Executive Leadership School (PELS) sponsored by the Virginia Police Chief’s Foundation, and his classmates voted to give him the PELS Graduate Leadership Award.
Michael Tillem is a local business owner and the Founder and Executive Director of Journey House Foundation. Michael brings extensive experience in the hospitality field, marketing, restaurant management and sales. Journey House Foundation was created because of Michael’s personal passion and life experience in long-term recovery. He identified the need for a more hands-on recovery community, that provides mentorship and a complete continuum of care for those seeking recovery. He has personal experience and first-hand knowledge of the trauma, challenges and barriers individuals and their families face when battling substance use disorder and seeking a new way of life in recovery. Michael began his recovery Journey in April of 2002 and married his wife Kimberly in 2007. Kimberly also works alongside him at Journey House Foundation. Together they understand that recovery is not only an individual journey, but also a family journey, and a community journey. By helping the individual struggling with SUD, you not only make a difference for that person, but also their family and the surrounding community. Michael and Kimberly have 4 children, Jeremy, Kaeler, Nathan and Garrett, as well as 2 grandchildren, Jayden and Emma.
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Debbie Ritter is currently serving her seventh term on the Chesapeake City Council following a term on the City Planning Commission. She is Chairman of the City Audit Committee and of the Community Policy Management Team. She is a Chesapeake representative to the Southside (Broadband) Network Authority, the Eastern Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority, The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and the Virginia Municipal League Legislative Policy Committee. She previously Chaired the DOD Joint Land Use Study for Oceana and Fentress, was the Vice Chair of the Coalition of Virginia High Growth Localities and a member of the Local Government Advisory Committee for the Chesapeake Bay. Debbie serves on numerous City Committees including the School Security Task Force Executive Committee, the Local Emergency Planning Committee and is active with many Community organizations.
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Ingrid Wallace Barber, Executive Director for Alleghany Highlands Community Services, is a native of Clifton Forge, Virginia. She has been the Executive Director at the CSB for sixteen years and one-half years. She graduated from Alleghany High School with honors in 1988 and James Madison University in 1992. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Production and Operations Management from James Madison University, and she also minored in Economics. Ingrid also graduated from The Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management in cooperation with University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce in 1999. Ingrid obtained her Masters of Business Administration degree from Liberty University in 2006.
Prior to working at Alleghany Highlands Community Services, Ingrid was Director of Budget and Finance for Alleghany County Public Schools for five years, and Ingrid also worked in the banking industry for almost 12 years ending her career with BB&T as an Area Operations Manager.
Ingrid is married to Randy Barber, and they have a daughter, Ashland Paige who also graduated from James Madison University in May of 2020. Ashland presides in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ingrid serves on the Mountain Gateway Community College Board of Directors, the Community Foundation for Rockbridge, Bath and Alleghany Board, the Bath Community Hospital Board of Directors, the Local Office on Aging Board of Directors in Roanoke, Virginia representing the Alleghany Highlands, the Hope House Advisory Board in Buena Vista, Virginia, the Smurfit WestRock-Ingevity Community Advisory Panel, the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards Leadership Team as Past-Chair, the Virginia Association of Community Services Board of Directors, the Alleghany County Community Management Policy Team, and the Alleghany County Public Schools Gifted Advisory Committee.
During her spare time, Ingrid enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and reading. She also enjoys walking her two toy poodles, Bella and Mae.
Jenny Sachs has a doctorate in Psychology with a specialization in addictions, and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and certified intervention professional (CIP)l. Jenny has almost 15 years of experience working in the field of addiction in different practice settings, which include intensive outpatient, treatment for DWI offenders, and private practice. Jenny is also focused on patient advocacy, and with her son, started an endowment to help improve the mental health and lives of families dealing with long pediatric hospital stays. Jenny also works with individuals and families, helping as an interventionist to find the appropriate level of treatment and placement for those dealing with addiction. Jenny is committed to the state of Virginia, having lived and worked in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Virginia Beach over the course of her career. She is an alumnus of both the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University.